Tallon Smith

We have arrived at the pointy end of the year, and it is time to crown our 2024 Battlers For Bush Footy Battler of the Year.

The Battler of the Year is the most prestigious award given by Battlers For Bush Footy, to the player or volunteer that does the most for a club or the game across regional Australia.

The award is in line with the mission statement of Battlers For Bush Footy, which is to “positively promote and share the spirit of the game of rugby league in regional New South Wales and beyond.”

Each of the nominees and the eventual winner is selected by myself, Tallon Smith, the founder and editor of Battlers For Bush Footy, based upon the impact on the game as observed by myself and my friends, acquaintances and contacts across the state.

Therefore, after a thorough decision making process and much speculation, we would like to announce the 2024 Battler of the Year…

Kurt Longford (President, Deniliquin Blue Heelers, Group 17)

After initially being formed in 1964, and going on to win three consecutive premierships between 1969 and 1971, the Blueheelers folded in 1977.

A subsequent attempt was made to re-establish the game in the region via the Deniliquin Raiders, who competed in the Victorian Rugby League’s Goulburn Murray competition in the early 1990s, but that ultimately proved futile.

Enter Longford, with a list of previous clubs longer than Tyran Smith or Blake Green, and a passion for the game that would rival that of people such as Rex Mossop, Ray Warren or Andrew Voss.

After playing for the Darlington Point-Coleambally Roosters reserves last year, a chance phone call with The Battler himself spawned the idea for restarting a league club in Deniliquin, where Longford happened to be moving.

Kurt then grabbed onto what was intended to be a throwaway line in a conversation from yours truly, taking the idea and turning it into reality against all odds.

Longford organised sponsorship, found players, designed jerseys and settled on the Blueheelers identity for the new club.

He then held a formative meeting, followed by a formal AGM, and was elected to the post of President by those in attendance.

Against all odds, he had revived a club dead for the best part of five decades, and expanded the game of rugby league back to what was at the time the largest town in the state with no active club.

Because of all of this work, the game of rugby league and the Group 17 competition (in its current form of the ProTen Community Cup), was able to officially welcome the Blueheelers back into the fold last month ahead of the 2025 season. 

Therefore, Battlers For Bush Footy would like to congratulate Kurt Longford, your Battler of the Year for season 2024.